Code with purpose: sign up for Imagine Cup today!

Imagine Cup enables student developers to harness their imagination, passion for technology and their vision of a brighter future to show the world what will come next. Nearly two million students across the globe have participated in Imagine Cup over the past 16 years and we have seen them take their dreams and ambitions from ideas to reality with the power of technology.

Today Microsoft Corporate Vice President Charlotte Yarkoni announced the launch of the 16th annual Imagine Cup. This year's winning team can win up to $100,000 USD and a mentoring session with Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella. Last year we were amazed with what competitors accomplished with the power of Microsoft Azure. To encourage even more innovation, we are introducing three special awards that represent the current state of digital transformation: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Mixed Reality each of them with a $15,000 prize.

Create the next generation of intelligent apps powered by Artificial Intelligence. The project with the best integration of AI + Cognitive Services will take this award home.

Big Data will become the primary cloud workload by 2020, show us how your project changes the way we look at data. The team with the best implementation of Data + Analytics or IoT will clinch this award

From augmented reality, to virtual reality, and everything in between, Mixed Reality empowers us to break free beyond boundaries. The best use of HoloLens, VR, or AR will win.

We strongly believe that Imagine Cup competitors embody our mission at Microsoft: to empower every person and every organization on the planet achieve more. We encourage you to take the first steps to form a team, imagine the future, and code with purpose by registering for Imagine Cup today! What you accomplish moving forward will have a ripple effect on the world around you. Your solutions will open our eyes and our minds and give us a glimpse into the future.